Book-lovers everywhere know the satisfaction of finishing a great read, and there’s an extra-special feeling that comes from completing a favorite story for the umpteenth time. In our house, the plot and characters of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series are well-known and cherished, and our copies are dog-eared and well-loved. I hope we never get too old for the magic of Hogwarts.
In my fledgling career as a librarian, several people have asked
me to recommend “something like Harry Potter” for them to read after finishing
the series. With all the books in our beautiful library, it should be easy to
find something that fits the bill, right?
Well, that’s trickier than it seems.
For starters, there’s no doubt that Harry Potter has deeply
influenced our culture. Consider the following questions:
- What house are you in?
- What’s your Patronus?
- Would you ever use Imperio or Crucio or Avada Kedavra?
The fact that these questions even make sense is a testament
to the impact of Harry Potter has had.
But what makes Harry Potter so great? It stands out among
fantasy for a number of reasons. The magic of Harry Potter extends beyond the
pages into a vast and vibrant community which continues to flourish: think of
the theme parks, merchandise, fan-fiction sites, screenplay sequel, and
soon-to-be dozen feature films – and this is almost a decade and a half
after the publication of the last book in 2007.
Harry Potter is very relatable and accessible to readers of
virtually all ages, from grade school to adult. Everyone who has read the
series was convinced that they could be a witch or wizard themselves, with
magic lying dormant in their veins: I know I was. And we’ve all met real-life
versions of:
- Draco, the arrogant bully
- Hermione, the book-smart know-it-all
- Luna, the eccentric weirdo
- Lupin, the cool teacher and valuable mentor
- Fred and George, the set of joking pranksters
- Moaning Myrtle, the specter that haunts the local bathroom (…okay, maybe not that last one.)
It's a tall order for any series to reach the same caliber
as Harry Potter. But I think it’s healthy to branch out a little bit and take a
chance on some rising stars that haven’t hit the same heights as Harry Potter –
at least not yet.
Below are some suggestions for Harry Potter read-alikes (librarian slang for books with similar elements). I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
1st book of 5 in the Magisterium series
by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
(2014-2018)
12-year-old Callum Hunt's father attempts to keep him from
the Magisterium, a school where young mages are trained. Despite his best
attempts to fail the entrance exam, Cal's inherent magical ability gets him
accepted, and he begins the first of five years of his training.
Whereas Harry Potter goes to school in the UK, Cal lives and
studies in the US. But both series include a trio of students who learn to develop
their magical talents and face dangers from all sides. I found Magisterium to
be faster paced and more modern than Harry Potter. It hits the spot for a
coming-of-age story with fantasy elements and unexpected twists.
1st book of 4 in the Circle of Magic series
by Tamora Pierce
(1997-1999)
During a medieval and Renaissance era in a fictional land, four
young misfits enter a strict temple community and become magicians-in-training,
each in a different form of magic. Together, the newfound friends learn to harness
their hitherto unexplored inherent magical abilities.
Circle of Magic delves deeper into interactions and
combinations of different forms of magic than we ever saw in Harry Potter. The
books are also considerably shorter than Harry Potter, which makes for easier
reading. But if the story ends too quickly for your liking, fret not; Circle of
Magic is followed by a sequel quartet, The Circle Opens (with the original cast
as fully qualified teen mages) as well as a stand-alone novel The Will of the
Empress (which takes place several years after that).
Midnight for Charlie Bone
1st book of 8 in the Children of the Red King series
by Jenny Nimmo
(2003-2010)
Charlie Bone is an ordinary boy who lives with his widowed mother and two grandmothers. But when Charlie realizes he can hear people in photographs talking, he is swept into an ages-old magical battle against the descendants of the ancient and powerful Red King.
It’s easy to see why Children of the Red King made it onto this list. It features a school for young magicians in the UK (Bloor’s Academy for Gifted Children), which reminds us a great deal of Hogwarts. And despite significant plot differences, these two fast-paced stories both center on a magical war between good and evil. Especially recommended for younger Potterheads.
The Black Witch
1st book of 3 (published so far, 5 total planned) in the Black Witch chronicles
by Laurie Forest
(2017-?)
Despite the fact that she looks exactly like her late grandmother who saved her people during the Realm War, Elloren Gardener has absolutely no magical abilities. When she joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University, she learns to embrace her destiny and step beyond the shadow of her grandmother's legacy. However, her blood relationships can prove dangerous, and Elloren must decide who to trust and what is true.
This richly crafted world of magic and creatures powerfully portrays the concept of privilege and prejudice. Forest engages critically with complex issues like racism, fascism, and xenophobia -- without hitting you over the head with it. The brisk pace of this novel makes the pages fly by, and you'll wish you had the sequel as soon as you finish the first. The subject matter and a some of the content might make this a better choice for a slightly older audience.
1st book of 7
by J.K. Rowling
(1997-2007)
Oscar Wilde said it best: “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”
*A version of this blogpost first appeared on Provo City Library blog.*
